Dispensing cabinet for paper towels



Feb. 6, :1940. c. E. KlRcH DISPENSING CABINET FOR PPER TOWELS Filed Sept. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l @A INVENTOR Y E N R O T T A Fd. e, 1940. g; E MECH 2,189,493

DISPENSING CABINE'l-l1 FOR PAPER TOWELS Filed Sept. 23, 1937 l I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Charles E. ffrc/z ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT- oFFIcE f i y 2,189,493 Y v DIsIE'NsING CABINET ron PAPER 'rowELs' Charles E. Kirch.` BIId-'zilogy N. Y'. Application' September 23,--1937;. SerialNo.' 165,359

' 11 claims. (o1. 3125-58) 'This invention relates to improvements in cabinets for dispensing interfolded paper towels of the kind which are arranged in a pack so that the leading ends of alternate of the towels are located at one side of the pack while the leading ends of the intermediate towels are locatedy at the opposite side'of the pack.

One object of the invention isto provide a cabinet which is so designed that waste is minimized by preventing the rapid"uninterrupted withdrawal of successive towels. H

A further object is to provide a cabinet in which the towels.y are `wholly contained until just before their withdrawal. I

A still further object is to provide for` simplicity and economy in construction.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: .I f

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a cabinet embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along'line 2 2 of Figure 1, 1

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the positions of the parts before the cabinet is conditioned to enable the withdrawal of a towel.

Figure 4 is a similar section showing the positions of the parts after the cabinet has been conditioned to enable the withdrawal of a towel.

Figure 5 is a section taken along 5-5 of Figure 1, the parts being shown in the same positions as iny Figure 4 with the leading towel partially withdrawn. e

Figure 6 is -a similar section and shows ythe .,5 positions of the parts after the succeeding towel has been movedto an accessible position.l Figure 7 is a lfragmentary section takenvalong line 7-1 of Figure 3. i s

The cabinet, as illustrated, includes a cover section l0 and a back section I| ,the latter being formed with forwardly directed flanges |2. The cover section is pivotally mounted upon the said flanges by rivets 'I3 `and is normally secured in its-.closed position by a lock lI4, the opening movement of the cover section being limitedby pins I5 which are carried by the flanges |42 'and which traverse arcuate slots I6. The towels which are indicated at v|'| arewithdrawn through an opening I8 formed in the bottom wall of they cover section. They are" arranged in a magazine I9 which includesv side walls 20 and` 2|. The said walls' are suitably secured to the back section l; they are spaced inwardly with `respect to the ange l2; and they 1 carry a bottom wall 22 upon which the `towels are supported over a central opening 23. The towels are interfolded in conventional manner. One section of each is arranged between the sections of the towel aboveV it while the `other section vis arranged between'the-sections ofthe towel CII beIwfit," thel Ieadingends'of alternate of the twelsextending beyond one side of the opening said vopening'. When they are arranged in the magazine' YI9 the leadingend of thev lower-most members are located below the magazine openp f2.3' while the leading vends ofthe intermediate towels entend beyond the opposite side rof the ing andare carried by arms 26 and 21 which are ysuspended for pivotal movement yfrom pins 28 and 28a which are carried by the side walls of the magazine. The said arms include cross-pieces 29 and 29a, the latter being provided witha laterally "extending ilange 30 which is formed with a slot 3|. An actuating lever 32 i`s` pivotally said 'lever 'extending through the slot 3| and being connected by a rod 33 to one end of a spring 34. The' 'other `end of thespring is connected'to` a bracket35'which is carried by the side wall 2| of the magazine. In Figure 3 the spring 34 is illustrated holding theparts at one limit of their gated lslot 36 which extends lengthwise of the lever, the' said slot being so formed that the pin 28a is located `substantially midway between itsends e The slot provides a guideway yfor an offset extension 3l which is formedv or provided upon a' link 38 (see Fig-1 7). The" latteris connected by a pin 39 to the lower end of a link 40, theupler end of the latter being suspended for Apivotaly movement by' a pin 40a from the wall 2|. A 'spring 4| connects one end of the'link 38 to a bracket 42A which is mounted uponfthe wall 2| and isoperative to urge both links towardv the front wall of the'cove'r section.'

When it isv desired to withdraw a towel from the cabinet a button 43 'is'pushed The movement of l the b'utt'on'is'transmitted by'a stem 44 to a lateral acounterclockwise direction. The initial part of such movement is resisted by the spring 3.4'. ,When the lever 32 passes dead center, however', the spring 34 is rendered operative to complete lits movement and to hold it in its new position.

During the` initial part ofthe counter-clockwise lmovementvof `the lever 32 its lower lend moves mountedupon the pin 28a, the lowerv endof the on the spring 4|.

along the slot 3|, thereby permitting the arms 2B and 21 to remain stationary. During the nal part of such movement, however, its lower end engages an end of the slot 3| so that its further movement is transmitted to the arms 26 and 21. 'I'he said arms are thus caused to move to the opposite limit of their range of movement as shown in Figure 4. As the arms 26 and 21 move toward such positions the member 24 directs the leading end of the lowermost towel downwardly so that it is caused to move through the opening I8 to a position in which it may be readily grasped. It will be noted further that the movement of the links 38 and 40 to actuate the lever 32 in the manner described increases the tension However, as the said lever approaches the position shown in Figure 4 the upper end of the slot 36 is inclined toward the front wall of the cover section, thereby permitting the spring 4| to move the link extension 31 to the upper end of the said slot and thus return the link 40 to its original position.

The towel which has been rendered accessible in the manner described may be readily withdrawn from the cabinet. During such withdrawal it passes around the under side of the member 24, pulling the leading end of the succeeding towel down through the opening 23 and against the member 24 as best shown in Figure 5, As the accessible towel is completely withdrawn from the cabinet the leading end of the succeeding towel tends to return to its original shape as indicated in dotted lines. The succeeding towel, therefore, remains wholly within the cabinet and its leading end is inaccessible through the opening i8. When it is desired to withdraw the succeeding towel the button 43 must be .again operated. When the button is pushed the second time the links 38 and 4D are operative to move the actuating lever in a clockwise direction. The initial part of such movement is against the action of the spring 34 and is not transmitted to the arms 26 and 21 owing to the movement of the lever in the slot 3|. As the actuating lever passes dead center and engages the forward end of the slot, however, .its further movement in response to the spring 34 is transmitted to the arms 26 and `21 and they are moved to their original positions, namely the positions shown in Figure 6. During such movement the member 25 directs the leading end of the succeeding towel through the opening I8 to a position in which it may be readily grasped, it being understood that as the said towel is withdrawn the leading Vend of the succeeding towel is withdrawn from the magazine I9 to assume the position shown in Figure 3. It will be noted that as the lever 32 approaches its original position the lower end of the slot 38 is again Ainclined downwardly toward the front wall of the cover section. thereby enabling the spring 4| to move the extension 31 of the link 38 to the lower end of the said slot and thus return the links 38 and 43 to their original positions.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the button 43 is operative when rst actuated to effect movement of the members 24 and 25 in a counter-clockwise direction and is operative when again actuated to effect movement of the said members in a clockwise direction. Hence when one towel is withdrawn the leading end of the succeeding towel may be extended to an accessible position. It will be noted in this connection that the movement of the button 43 is utilized, regardless of the direction of movement of the actuating lever, to move the said lever beyond dead center so that the spring 34 may be availed of to complete such movement, the slot 3| being so formed that the movement of the actuating lever is transmitted to the arms 26 and 21 only after it passes dead center. Only one towel can then be withdrawn from the cabinet at a time, it being necessary to again operate the button 43 ifa second towel is desired. The cabinet, therefore, has the advantage that indiscriminate withdrawal of the towels is thus prevented without inconveniencing successive users. A further advantage obtained is that the lowermost towel in the magazine is protected in a large measure and hence is preserved in a good condition even though not withdrawn for a substantial period of time. f

I claim as my invention:

l. A cabinet for dispensing paper towels, a magazine .in which said towels are adapted to be folded and arranged in a pack so that the leading ends of alternate of said towels are located at one side of said pack while the leading ends of the intermediate towels are located at the opposite side of said pack, said cabinet having an opening inA one wall through which said towels are adapted to be wi hdrawn, said magazine supporting the foremost towel so that its leading end is spaced from said opening, a member which is located between said magazine and said opening and which is movable between two limits and means for effecting movement of said member rst to one of said 'limits and 'then to the other, said member being operative as it is moved toward one of said limits to advance the leading end of the foremost towel through said opening and being operative when the foremost towel has been withdrawn and it is moved toward the other of said limits to advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through said opening.

2. A cabinet for dispensing paper towels, a magazine in which said towels are adapted to be folded and arranged in a pack so that the leading ends of alternate of said towels are located at one |side of said pack while the leading ends of the intermediate towels are located at the opposite Aside of said pack, said cabinet having an opening in one Wall through which said towels are adapted to be withdrawn, said magazine supporting the foremost towel so that its leading end is spaced from said opening, a member which is located bef tween said magazine and said opening and which is movable between two limits, resilient means for holding said member at either of said limits and means for effecting movement of said member :iirst Ato one of said limits and then to the other, said member being operative when it is moved to one of said limits to advance the leading end of the foremost towel through said opening and being Voperative when the foremost towel has been withdrawn 4and it is moved toward the other of said limits to advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through said opening.

3. A cabinet for disnsing folded paper towels, a magazine in which said towels are adapted to be arranged in a pack so that the leading ends of alternate of said towels are located at one side of said pack while the leading ends of the intermediate towels are located at the opposite side of said pack, said cabinet having an opening in one wall through which said towels are adapted to be withdrawn, said magazine supporting the foremost towel so that its leading end is spaced from said opening, a member which is located between said magazine and said opening and which is pivotally mounted for movement between two limits, resilidirection remove 'said means ed gevangene-lead'- Aing end of the foremost towel through'said opening and being operative when the foremost towel ni means for-im1c1mg s'aidlmembr at Leitner of said limits and meansfor'effecting'` movement of said member ,first to one of said limits and then to theother, said member being operative when it is movedy 'toward one of said v-limits to advancethe leading end of the foremost toweljthroug'h said ,opening and beingv operative.whenvv the 'foremost towel hasbeen withdrawn and it is moved toward the-other offsaid limits to advance the leading Hend of the succeeding towel through saidf opening. i 4. A cabinetv for dispensing 'paper towels, a magazine'in which said towels are ladapted to be folded and arranged in apackso that the leading .v

ends of alternate of said towels are located at one ,side of said pack whilefthe leading ends" `of the intermediate towels are'located at the opposite side of said pack, said cabinet having an opening in one wall -through which said towels are adapted tobe withdrawn, said magazine supporting the vforemost towel so that its leadinghend is spaced from 'said opening, meanswhichis located between said magazine land said yopeningwhichis movable between two limits, said means being op@` erative when moved in onedirection to advance the leading end of the foremost towel through said opening and being operative after the foremost towel has been withdrawn and it ismoved in the opposite directionto advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through said opening and means which is operativewhen first actuatedfto v effect movement of said last named means in one direction and which is operative when again ac-4 tuated to 'effect movement of said lastl named means in the opposite direction. 1- l' 45. A cabinet for dispensing folded paper towels, said cabinet having an opening -in one wall through Vwhich said towels are adapted to be withdrawn, a magazine in which said towels are arranged in a pack so 'that the leading Iends of alternate of said towels are located at one side of, said pack while the leading ends kof the'intermediate towels are located at the opposite side `of said pack, said magazine supporting the foremost towel so'that its leading end is spaced from said opening, means which issuspended for swinging movement below said magazine and whichl is formed to provide a passage in which the leading v end of the foremost'towel is positioned, said `said cabinet having anvgopening'in .one wall 'means being movable in one direction to advance the leading end of the foremosttowel through said opening and lbeing operativekafter the foremost4 towel has been withdrawn and it is moved inthe opposite direction to `advance the leading end 0f the succeeding towel through said opening and means which is operative when first actuated to elect movement of said last named means in one `direction and whichisoperative whenagain actuated to` eifect movement of said last named `means in theopposite direction.

6. Acabinetfor 'dispensing' folded paper towels,

through which saidtowels are adapted tobewith-l drawn, a magazine in which said-towels are arranged in a pack so that the leading endsA of altere nate ofV said towels arelocated at one side of said pack while the leading ends of` the intermediate towels are located at the, opposite side of 1said.

pack, said magazine supporting the foremost Itowel so that its leading end isy spacedfrom saidv opening, means whichisl suspended for swinging movement vbelow said magazine and which is formed to provide a passage in which the leading end of the foremost towel is positioned, a lever has been withdrawn and it is moved in the opposite direction to move said meansto advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through said opening, means which is operative when` first `actuated to'initiatemovement of said lever in one direction and a spring connected at one end to a -rlxed part of said cabinet and `at its opposite end to saidvlever for completing such movement' of saidleverQsaid lastnamed means being operative when again actuated to initiate movementof said leverin the opposite direction, said spring like-` wise being' operative to complete the movement of said lever in this direction.

l 7. A cabinet for dispensing folded paper towels, said cabinet having an opening in one wall through which said towels are adapted'to be withdrawn, a magazine in which said' towels are arranged ina pack so that'the leading ends' of` alternate of said towels are located at one side of said packwhile the leading ends of the intermediate towels are located `at the opposite side of said pack, said magazine supporting the fore#- most towel so that its vleading endis spaced from said opening, means which is suspended for swinging movement below said magazine and which is formed to provide a passage in which the leading end of the foremost towel is positioned, f7 f a lever mounted for oscillation between two limits., a Aspring which is connected at one end to said lever-and at its opposite end to a fixed partv of said cabinet and which is operativemto complete the movement of the latter'toeither of said limits ter it moves beyond Idead center, said lever being operative when it is moved in one direction `to move said means to advancevthe'v leading end of the foremost towel through said opening and beingoperative after the foremost towel is withdrawnand it is m'oved'in the opposite direction to move said means to'advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through sai-d opening and means which is operative when first actuated to move said lever in onedirection beyond dead center-and which is operative whenragain' actuated to move ysaid lever in the opposite direction beyond dead center. 1

' l 8. A cabinet for dispensing folded papervtowels, said cabinet having an openingv in Ione wall through which'said towels are adapted to be withdrawn, a, magazine in which said towels are arrangedin a pack so that the leadingends of alterlnate of said towels are located at -one side of said net and which is operativeto complete the move-f mentfof. the latter to either of ysaid limits after it moves beyond dead center, said lever being operative Awhen itv is moved in one direction to move said means, to vadvance the leading end .ofthe foremost towel throughk said opening and being operative after theforemost towel is withdrawn and it is moved in the opposite direction to move said means to advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through said opening, means which fill is opera-tive when rst `acimated to kmove said lover in one direction beyond -dead center and which yis operative when again actuated to move said lever in-the opposite direction beyond dead .center .and means providing .a lost motionconnection between said lever and said first named means, whereby ,the movement of said lever is .transmitted to said rst named means only after said lever has been moved beyond dead center.

-9. cabinet for dispensing folded paper towels, said cabinet hav-ing an opening in one wall through -,\vhiohsaid towels are adapted to be withdrawn, a magazine in which said towels are arranged a pack so that the leading ends of alternate of said towel-s .are located at one side of said pack while the leading ends of the intermediate towels are located at :the opposite side of said pack, said magazine supporting the foremost -towel .so that its leading end is spaced from said opening, means which is suspended for swinging An-iovement below said magazine .and which is for-med lto provide .a passage `in which the leading .end `of .the `foremost towel is positioned, a lever mounted for oscillation between Ytwo limits, a spring which 'is connected at one end to said lever and lat its oppositeend to a xed part of said cabinet and which is operative to complete the movement the latter .to either of said limits after it moves .beyond dead center, said lever being operative .as it is moved in one direction to move said means to advance the leading end of .the foremost towel through said opening and being operative after the lforemost towel is withdrawn and it is moved in the Iopposite direction to move said means .to advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through said opening, a manually operable element .carried by a part of said cabinet, links associated with said element and lever, said links being operative when said element is first actuated to move said lever in one direction beyond dead center and being operative when said element is again actuated to move said lever in the opposite direction beyond :dead center.

l0. A cabinet for dispensing folded paper towels, said cabinet having an opening in one wall through which said towels are adapted to be withdrawn, a magazine in which said towels are arranged in a pack so that the leading ends of alternate of said towels are located at one side of said pack while the leading ends of the intermediate towels are located at the .opposite side of said pack, said magazine supporting the foremost towel so that its leading end is spaced from said opening, means which is suspended for swinging movement below said magazine and which is formed to provide a passage in which the leading end of the foremost towel is positioned, a lever mounted for oscillation between two limits, said lever being formed with a slot, a spring which is connected at one end to said lever and at its opposite end to a xed part of said cabinet and which is operative to complete the movement of the latter to either of said limits after it moves beyond dead center, said lever being operative as it is moved in one direction to move said means to advance the leading end of the foremost towel through said opening and being operative after the foremost towel is withdrawn and it is moved in the opposite direction to move said means to advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through said opening, a manually operable ele- Aimentgconnected links whichl are actuated by said element, carried bya part of said cabinet, one of .said links having arvprojection which has a sliding fit in said slot andthe other of said links being pivotally connectedto aiiXed part of said cabinet, resilient means-for normally holding said links So that they will be Aactuated when said element is operated, said links being operative when said element is iirst actuated to move said lever in one direction beyond dead center, Vsaid slot assuming a position as said lever is moved iri such direction to permit said resilient means vto move said projection to `one end of said slot and thereby return `ranged in a-pack so that the leadingends of alterf1,

nate towels-are v.located .at one side `of said pack While the leading ends of the intermediate towels lare located at the opposite side of said pack, said An'iagazine supporting .the yforemost towel so that its :leading .endis spaced from said opening, means which is located .below .said magazine and which is formed to provide la passage in which the leading end of the foremost vtowel is positioned, depending pivotally mounted arms for `carrying said meansone vof said .arms being formed with a guideway, a lever mounted for oscillation between two limits, one .end of said lever extendingr through .said guideway while a slot is formed in the `opposite end, `a spring connected vat one end to said lever `and `at its opposite end to a xed part of said cabinet and which is operative as said lever moves ,beyond `.dead Ycenter .and engages an end of said guideway to movesaid means to ad'- vance the leading end of the foremost towel through said opening and which is operative after the foremost towel is withdrawn and said lever is moved in the opposite direction to engage the opposite end of said guideway to move said means to advance the leading end of the succeeding towel through said opening, a manually operable element Lcarried .by a part of said cabinet, connected links which are actuated by said element, one of said links having a projection which has a sliding fit in said slot, and the other of said links being pivotally connected to a fixed part of said cabinet, resilient means for normally holding said links so Vthat they will be actuated when said element is operated, said links being operative when said element is first actuated to move .said lever in one direction beyond dead center, said slot g;

assuming a position as said lever is moved in such direction to permit said resilient means to move said projection to one end of said slot to return one of said links to its original position, said element being operative as it is again actuated to move said lever in the opposite direction beyond dead center, said slot assuming a position during movement of said lever in this direction which will permit both of said links to return to their original positions.

CHARLES E. KIRCH. 

